Clergy gone wild!

Aron reports that the following email exchange was posted on the Via Media Forth Worth Yahoo Group:

I thought you might be interested in this email exchange…

First, here’s an email sent from a member of the Diocese of Fort Worth to Iker…

On Jun 19, 2006, at 3:32 PM, Susann Eller wrote:

> As a member in good standing of the Episcopal Church not your church

> apparently, I want to let you know that I do not agree with you and

> your followers on the Resolution passed yesterday asking that this

> Diocese withdraw from the Episcopal Church.

> I along with many others in this Diocese will remain affiliated with

> the Episcopal Church of the United States not you and your followers.

> How dare you speak for us?

> Susann M. Eller

> Member of Trinity Episcopal Church

And then here’s the good Bishop’s response…

—–Original Message—–

From: Bishop Jack L. Iker [mailto:jliker@…]

Sent: Monday, June 19, 2006 9:29 PM

To: Susann Eller

Subject: Re: Member of Episcopal Church

You are mistaken in your notion that our Diocese is withdrawing from the Episcopal Church. Please stop spreading lies. Stick to the facts.

I am your bishop – and I speak for this diocese, whether you like it or not.

Grow up.

JLI

=-=-=

Nice, huh?

Nice, indeed!

Behold, the consecration vows for a Bishop in the Episcopal Church! (From the rite entitled “The Ordination of a Bishop”, which begins on page 511 of the Book of Common Prayer)

Bishop: As chief priest and pastor, will you encourage and support all baptized people in their gifts and ministries, nourish them from the riches of God’s grace, pray for them without ceasing, and celebrate with them the sacraments of our redemption?

Answer: [presumably spoken by Bishop Iker at his own consecration –Ed.] I will, in the name of Christ, the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.

…

Bishop: Will you be merciful to all, show compassion to the poor and strangers, and defend those who have no helper?

When Bonnie Perry got up and asked the HoD if A161 meant that gays were to return to lying and deceiving about who they are in order to be in the church,, I watched three priests from the Diocese of Dallas look at each other, chuckle, and nod their heads. So much for unity and honesty

When are we going to just start calling people out on that kind of behavior? No one is perfect, to be sure, but one of the functions of the clergy orders is to model Christian charity, mercy and humility before the jerks (like me) who they are called to serve. That sort of rank, snarky assholery may have a place in the Republican Party, but it has no place on the floor of a grievously divided General Convention, and priests who have sworn at their ordination to “build up the family of God” (BCP 532) should be held accountable for that kind of the behavior.